Fluid-pressure brake.



' PATENTED AUG. 7, 1906.

G. L. STARR. FLUID PRESSURE BRAKE.

AFPLICATION FILED FEB.26, 1906.

' der. Fig. 2 is a section ta en atright Aangles lated' and the means for locking or holding citizen of the United States, residing at Otego,

provemen'ts in VFluid Pressure Brakes, of -which the following is a specification.

` the hose-couplings or a break in the hose', and

GEORGE. L. STAREOE OTEGO, NEW YORK.

.FLUID-PRESSURE BRAKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

` Patented Aug. 7, 190e.

Application filed 4EebruaryZ, 1906.' Serial No. 3034.030.

To all whom Ait may concern: A

Be it' known that I, GEORGE L. STARR., a

in the county'of Otsego and State of New York, have invented new and useful Im-AA My vinvention 'pertains to automatic l'uid pressure brakes.

It frequentlyhappens ,in the operation of railway-trains equi ped with brakes of the type stated`that t e hose-couplings of the n brakes are disconnected or the hose is ruptured by cars pulling apart, whereupon theA air escaping-freely from the train-pipe to the atmosphere ap lies the brakes with reat suddenness, and) thereby gives rise to s ook and discomfort to passengers orelse causes inj y to the rolling-stock and in many cases disastrous wrecks.

The object of my invention is the provision of a simple and practical automatic valve which without interfering in any measure with the free circulation of compressed air` in' the train-pipe necessary to roper working of he brakes. may be depen ed on to effect a g adual discharge of air from the4v train-pipe in the eventV ofdisconnection of thereby cause the cars to make a slow stop and obviate the danger of subjecting the assengersto discomfort or the rolling-stoc to in iury. y

With the fore oing in mind the invention will be fully un erstood from the following descriptionand claims when the same are read in connection with the accom anying dra-win s, formingpart of this speccation, in whicli- J Figure 1 isa longitudinal vertical section ofthe automatic valve'constitu-ting the present 'and preferred embodiment of my inven tion, the valve-disk being shown in the position it occupies when t e brake systeml'of which it forms a part is in` roper workingorto Fig. 1 and in rear of the valve-disk, which! is shown in ay raised position. Fig. 3is a front elevation ofthe valve-disk removed, andy Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation illustrating the screw-plug through ythe medium of which the tension of the valve-spring is reguthe said plug against casual loosening when in service.

y .parts in. au of the views of thereof, though interior valve-seat Similar letters. designate corresponding theu drawings, reerring to whichi A is the casing of the automatic valve.'

The said casing-may be of any construction compatible wit Y without involving adepart'ure vfrom the scope the purpose of my invention prefer to construct it as a, arms b ando, reachin in. opplosite directions and-interiorly'threade or ot erwise adapted for `the connection of sections `of train-pipe, 'and an interiorly- 'threaded depending arm d which. permits of access being readily gained to the interior of the valve and is normally closed'by a plug e., as illustrated. The valve-seat a. isl preferably, though not necessarily, pitched at a slightiangle'of inclination, and at a point below the said valve-seat .and in the inner side of the casing A is provided a horizontal socket j". This socketf is disposed at one side of the longitudinal center of the casing, Fig. 2, and inthe opposite side of the casin is rmed'a transverse threaded bore g, whic is alinedI with said socket] and is provided with a lon itudinal roove h, designed to receive a loc g-key hereinafter more fully referred to. i

B is ascrew-plug adjustably arranged in thetransverse -bore gofcasing A and having a-longitudinal central bore l and a plurality of longitudinal key-seating grooves m and also having a longitudinal vpassage p to receive one rend `of the spring, presently de scribed, andrecesses r in its outer end. The recesses r are for the enga ement of a-spanner., through the medium o which the plug B `is-turned to regulate the tension' ofthe spring,

and.when .the said plug isv ositioned as desiredthe key cis arrange in the groove h .and the particular groove m' registered there- 'With, when., as will be readily apparent, casvual loosenin of the .screw-plug under the vi-- ent to the operation of a train is bration inci precluded.

C a closure-screw which is removably arranged in the outer portion of the bore g and is designed toprotectthe screw-plug B and its appurtenancesagainst moisture and dirt.

D is a pintle'extendin through the bore l of the screw-plug B an arranged between latter it is held against casual displacement. A'E is aswinging valve-bodyvmounted on the pintle D, so as to oscillate in the direction of the length of the casing A'-/. e., theidilrecs los the socket f and theolosure-screw C, by which i l in Fig. 1 notwithstanding the pressure of thev air in the train-pipe. y

The valve-body Eis Vprovided at an inter- `mediate point of its length with` a plain transverse aperture s, and'it is also provided .in its upper end witha notch or bifurcation t and erabl-y through the of' the at a point adjacent to its. lower or pivoted end with a threaded lugu. 'This latter is for the engagement of a stop-screw o, which is adjustable with respect to the valve-body according to the position in which it is desired the valve to rest while the brake system is in proper Working order and is equipped above the lug with a jam-nut w. Said stop-screw 'v is arranged to bring up andnormall'y rest against the inner side of thev plug e of the-casing A, as shown in Fig. 1 and be hel du `nder normal conditions, in such position by the springG. The valve-disk F is arranged on theA side of; the body E adjacent to the seat -a and is. loosely connectedto the saidbod, refr l0 't 1v, winch-extends loosely through the aperture s 'and is equippedwith asecuring-nut z. Being loosely connected to the body E, asrstated, the disk F is obviously adaptedto accommodate itsel to inequalities of the seat w or to `any particles of dust or that may be caught between it and the said valve-seat,\

this` in order to enable it when placed in opveration to effect asubstantial' closing 'of the' passage throughv the valvecasing. At its upper end the fisk Fis provided with: an. ad'- justable screw H, which-extends slightly beyond its `face kand is designed to serve as. a

projection, the purpose of which is to hold .the disk at a; slight distance from the seat a and in that Way permit the compressed airt'o ,graduallyv orslcwly pass the closed valve. lAtthis point it will 'be appreciated that the pro,- jection H will eftectually hold the closed valve at a. slight .distance 'from the seat aand that' its etlicieney is' not lia-ble to; beafected by the presence ot foreign substance, such as dirt or moisture, thev casing. A From this i-t follows that the said projection H on the facek of the disk F constitutes an important 'feature of my invention. The screw which, as stated., is preferably em oyed to form the projection H is pneferab y upped 'a nut o to holdit against oasua looseningand has its rear portion disposedgin the notchx't-of the valere-body E, this latter in order to as# sure the Iprojection H being at a point ne- Hiote from the center of movement of the valve. 'lhe spring4 G. is coiled about the pintle D, as illustrated, and. it -is provided atl its inner end 'With an arm t and at its outer w end with an arml c. The inner arm b is so arranged relative'to the valve-body E as to normally hold the valve in the position.

shown in Fig. 1, While the outer arm is arranged inthe longitudinal passage of the screw-plug B. From this it followsthat the tension of the spring G may be readily regulated by turning the screw plugr B, and inthat Way the'valve may bey made to normally rest in vlthe-proper position irrespective of the pressure in the train-pi e. In other duri-ng the circulationof the 4compressed air .Words, the valve may bema `e to `rest idle incident to the usual Working of the brakes, which is an important desideraturn, inasmuch as ift precludes the valve interfering inv the sli htest degree with the freecirculation of air.

en, however,v the pressure is materially.

reduced in front of the valve, as is the ease when the hose-cou os are disconnected or the hose is ruptured, it will be seenI that the pressure back of the-valve immediately throw the same against the seat aand the subse nent lesca of the. compressed air past t -e valve will be slow and gradual, as 1s desirable.

In the practical installation of my invention one ofthe automatic valves be arrangedin the train-pipe at one end of a car and another of the valves will be arranged in the train-pi e at the opposite end of the car, the' said va ves being identical in construction, but being so arrange-d that the 'disk of one will close toward the left, While the disk of the other will close toward the right'. With thisl understanding it Willfbe apparent that in 'the event of the hose-couplings at either end of the car being disconnected the pressure of compressed vair in the pi will immediately move the disk of the jacent valve toits closed position and hold it in such position,

with. the result that the escape of air through the break Will be slow and gradual. From this it follows that the brakes of the car will be applied in much the-same-manner as when a service stop is made in the ordinary operation of` a train, and hence shock andI jar to the' passengers will be avoided, as Well asin-jury to the rolling-stock.

lin. addition to. the practical advantages which I have hereinbefore ascribed to my novel; automatiovalve it will be seen that the sameis sim le and compact in construction, is susceptibie of'beingreadily installed in airbnake apparatus. such as at present in general use, Vand is Well adgpted toywithstand the usage to which. air-,bn e apparatus is ordinarily subjected.

IOO

IlO

I have enteredinto a detailed description of the construction and relative arrangement of the-parts embraced. in the-present and pre- -ierliedembodiment of my invention with a ever, to be understood as coniining myself t'o the said specific construction-and relative-ar- Y view-of impartinga definite understanding of the .said embodiment. IIdonot desire, howpressure brake apparatus, of a train-pipe, and a valve contained in the train-pipe and ar-` ranged to rest in anopen position during the maintenancefof pressure in the trainpipe at opposite sides of the valve and to automatic` ally close onthefremoval of pressure in the train-pipe 'at one side of the valve', and also' arrangedywhen closed to permitluid-pressure to slowly or gradually pass between it and its seat in the train-p'pe.

2. The combinatonin anautomatic iluidpressure brake apparatus, of a train-pipe having a valve-seat therein, and a valve contained in the train-pi e and arranged to rest in an open position uring themaintenance of pressure 1n the train-pipe at opposite sides of the valve and to one side' of the valve, and a projection between the valve andthe valve-seat arranged' pressure brake a tained in the train-pipe and arranged to rest in an open position during the maintenance of pressure in the train-pipe at opposite sides of the valve and toautomatically closeyon the removal of pressure in the train'pipe at one side of the valve; said valve having a projection on its face arranged to im against the valve-seat when the va closed.

4. The combination in an automaticfluidpressure brake apparatus, of a train-pipe, a valve arranged to swing in the train-plpe and having a stop arranged tol bring up against a complementary abutment, a spring exerting pressure against the valve,.whereby the valve is caused to rest in an open position during the maintenance of ,pressure vin the trainpipe at opposite sides'oi' the valveand yet is free to automatically close on the removal olf pressure in the train-pipe at one lside of the valve', and means for ermitting Huid-pres,- sure to slowly or gra ually pass the valve when the same' is in its closed position.

5. `The combination in an automatic luidpressure brake apparatus, of a train-pipe, a valve contained in the train-'pi e, a spring exerting pressureagainst the'va the valve is caused to rest in'an open position during the maintenance of pressure in the train-pipe at opposite sides of the valve and yet `is free to automatically close `on the-reautomatically close onthe removal of pressure in the train-pipe at pparatus, vof a train-pipe. having a valve-seat therein, and a' valve coningev ve 1s ve, whereby moval of pressure. in the train-pipe at one side of the valvemeans for 4regulating the tension of the spring to suit the valve to the amount of pressure in the train-pipe, and means for permitting luid-pressureto slowly or gradually' pass the valve when the same is initscclosed position. v

6. The combination in an automatic iuidpressure .brake apparatus, of a train-pipe, a valve arranged toswing in the train-pipe and having an adjustable stop arranged to bring up against the. complementary abutment, a n f spring exerting pressure against the valve whereby the valvev is `caused to rest in an open `positionduring the maintenance of pressure in the train-pipe at oppositesides ofthe valve and yet is free to automatically close' on the .'removal-ofpressurejn the'train-pipe at one side of the valve, means, for regulating the tension of the spring to suit the'valve to the amount of pressure in the train-pipe, and means for permitting Huid-pressure to slowly or gradually passl the 'valve when the same is in its closed position.

7. The combination in an automatic Huid'- pressure brake apparatus, of a tram-pipe, a swinging valve contained in the train-pipe, a pintle on which the val-ve isv mounted, a screwplug adjustable in the trainipe, and a sprin coiled about the pintle andiJ having one en arranged to exert pressure against the valve and its other end attached to the screw-plu I8. The combination in an automatic ui pressure brake apparatus, of a train-pipe, a

swinging valve contained the train-pipe, a pintle on which the valve 'is mounted, ,a screwplug adjustable in the. train-pipe, a sprin coiled about the p intle and having one en arranged to exert pressure against the valve and its other end attached to the screw-plug, and a removable device coperating with the train-pipe and the screw-plug for holding the latter against casual movement.

9. The combination in an automatic iiuidpressure brake apparatus, of a train-pipe comprising a casing having a socket in one side and a threaded bore alined with the socket, a screw-plug disposed in the threaded bore and having a bore of its own,-a intle extending through the latter bore andp having its inner end disposed in the socket, a removable 4device cooperating with the casing and the plugfor holding the latter against casual movement, a swin ing valve mounted on the pintle, a spring coi ed about the pintle and having one end arranged to press Ythe valve and its other end attached to the screw-l plug, and a closure plugl or screw removably arranged in the outer end of the threaded bore in the casing.

l0. The combination in an automatic fluidpressure brake apparatus, of a casing contain- IOO IIS

mga valve-seat, and a valve movable from l and toward the seat and having a screw-bear ing in it and extending beyond its face so as ISO to constitute 8,- projection adapted to impinge arranged' in .engegement with the body Whereagainst the valveseat when the valve is by thev *disk is'A prevented from changing its closed. position On the body. y

`I1. The combination in an automatic fuid- In testimony whereof have hereuntofuset 5 Pressure brake apparatus, of E casing oontainmy hand inpresenee o twol subscribing witx 5 ing a valve-seat, and va; valve arranged l'to ness'es. swing in the easing end comprising a.- body, a disk loosely mounted Onthe body, and a'. Witnesses: y screw-bearing in the disk and projecting beo GEORGE H'. GOODMAN, no: youd the face thereof and having a"'portion. THOMAS E. TEPIE.

GEORGE L. STARR'. 

